Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40604920›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of medical research2025

Effectiveness of dietary interventions in managing pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease: a comprehensive systematic review.

Abdulrahman A Alnaim

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of medical research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Abdulrahman A AlnaimDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsaa, Saudi Arabia. dr.a.alnaim@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic digestive disorder that significantly impacts children's growth, development, and quality of life. Traditional management of GERD often involves pharmacological interventions, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), which raise concerns about side effects and long-term safety. Recently, interest has shifted toward dietary interventions as complementary or alternative approaches to managing GERD symptoms.

objectiveThis systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of various dietary interventions, including low-fat diets, plant-based diets, exclusion diets, and nutraceuticals such as probiotics, in managing pediatric GERD symptoms and promoting overall digestive health.

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to March 2024. Studies investigating dietary interventions for pediatric GERD published in English were selected. Risk of bias was assessed using the modified ROBVIS2 tool, and results were synthesized through narrative and thematic analysis.

resultsEleven studies were included in the review. Evidence on low-fat versus full-fat dairy diets showed mixed results, with no clear consensus on their impact on GERD symptoms. Plant-based and exclusion diets demonstrated significant improvements in GERD symptoms, likely due to their anti-inflammatory properties and the elimination of dietary triggers. Probiotics emerged as a promising intervention, reducing GERD symptoms by enhancing gut barrier function and modulating inflammation. However, the studies varied in design, and adherence to dietary interventions was identified as a key challenge, particularly in pediatric populations.

conclusionAlthough current evidence remains limited, this review highlights promising dietary strategies-especially plant-based diets and probiotics-for managing pediatric GERD. Future research should focus on personalized nutrition and long-term effectiveness to validate these non-pharmacological interventions.

Indexed as

Gastroesophageal RefluxChildDietary SupplementsHumansProbioticsDietary interventionsNutraceuticalsPediatric GERDPersonalized nutritionPlant-based dietProbiotics

Identifiers

PMID40604920
PMCPMC12219262

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.